Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Brings New Robotic Technology for Orthopedic Surgery Patients

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), home to the region’s largest orthopedic surgery program, continues to bring innovative technology to orthopedic surgery patients across the Big Bend region with the latest advancement in joint replacement surgery – Stryker’s Mako Robotic-Arm for partial and total knee replacement procedures.

Robotic-arm assisted surgery is a leading approach to joint replacement that offers the potential for a higher level of patient-specific implant alignment and positioning. The technology allows TMH’s orthopedic surgeons to create a patient-specific 3D plan and perform joint replacement surgery using a surgeon controlled robotic-arm that helps them execute the procedure with a high degree of accuracy.




“Mako is changing the way joint replacement surgeries are performed,” said Chesley Durgin, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Tallahassee Memorial and Tallahassee Orthopedic Center. “Using a virtual 3D model, the Mako system allows me to personalize each patient’s surgical plan pre-operatively, so there is a clear plan for how we will position the implant before entering the operating room. During surgery, I can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments. The robotic-arm then allows me to execute that plan with a high level of accuracy and predictability. The combination of these three features of the system has the potential to lead to better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.”




The Mako partial knee application is a treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. Following the personalized pre-operative plan, Dr. Durgin, among other expert orthopedic surgeons at TMH, can guide the robotic-arm during bone preparation to execute the pre-determined surgical plan and to position the implant. By selectively targeting only the part of the knee damaged by osteoarthritis, they can resurface the diseased portion of the knee while helping to spare the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding the knee joint. Studies have shown robotic-arm assisted partial knee replacement is two to three times more accurate than manual partial knee replacement procedures.




“We are proud to be among the first to use this innovative technology in the Big Bend region,” shared Andrew Starr, FACHE, VP & Chief Health Operations Officer at TMH. “Our exceptional orthopedic surgery program is committed to bringing the latest technology and exceptional providers to Florida’s capital city to offer the best possible care for our patients.”